Presentation
Incidental finding of a left renal mass and cystic lung disease in a man presenting with atypical chest pain
Patient Data
Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.
Subtle hyperlucency of both lungs and peripheral left lower lobe bullae.
Post-operative hemopneumothorax likely secondary to underlying cystic lung disease.
Surgical clips in the left upper quadrant post partial nephrectomy.
Pre & post nephrectomy CT abdomen & chest
The first series of images shows a left-sided renal mass. The patient underwent a left partial nephrectomy (as seen on the other sequences). The mass proved to be a chromophobe RCC on histology. Note the absence of renal angiomyolipomata. Right retrocrural lesion ?cisterna chyli.
Post-op CT abdomen (single slice) and axial and coronal chest (lung windows).
Ileo-jejunal intussusception.
Bilateral thin-walled lung cysts.
Normal MRI head.
No evidence of tuberous sclerosis.
No bony lesions.
Case Discussion
Patient presented with atypical chest pain. Subsequent CT of the chest and abdomen revealed a left renal mass suspicious for renal cell carcinoma.
Partial left nephrectomy was performed confirming a chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Post-operative hemopneumothorax is likely due to underlying cystic lung disease and is often the presenting complaint.
The combination of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, cystic lung disease, and subsequent family history established the diagnosis of Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome. This is yet to be confirmed with FLCN-mutation genetic testing.